Quantitative research on the impact of COVID‐19 on frontline nursing staff at a military hospital in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Abstract Aim The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between stress, psychological symptoms and job satisfaction among frontline nursing staff at a military hospital in Saudi Arabia during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Design Descriptive cross‐sectional study. Methods Data were collected using an online survey. All Registered Nurses (N = 1,225) working at a military hospital between February to April 2021 were contacted, 625 responded (51%). Data were analysed using descriptive and multivariate analysis, Student's t‐test for independent samples and one‐way analysis of variance followed by Tukey's multiple comparison tests. Results Stress was experienced more significantly than depression or anxiety. Approximately 29% of the change in scores for psychological symptoms was explained by age group, being a Saudi national and working in emergency departments (F[3,620] = 19.063, p < 0.0001). A 37% change in nursing stress scores was explained by nationality and work department. (F[5,618] = 19.754, p < 0.0001). A 29% change in job satisfaction scores was explained by nationality and work department (F[3,620] = 19.063, p < 0.0001).

Keywords

• anxiety
• COVID‐19
• depression
• job satisfaction
• nurses
• Saudi Arabia